Straightening and quenching machine



Aug. 24 1926.-

' 7 l QMLW Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,125

B. H. URSCHEL STRAIGHTENING AND QUENCHING MACHINE Filed June 15, 1925 4Sheets-Sh t 5 W 43 2b E 1: 52 E 27 W 38 30 w 28 Aug. 24 1926. 1,597,125

B. H. URSCHEL STRAIGHTENING AND QUENCHING MACHINE Filed June 15 1925 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED, STATES, PATENT OFFICE.

BERTIS H. URSGHEL, OF BOWLING GREEN, OHIO.

STRAIGHTENING AND QUENCHING MACHINE.

Application filed June 15, 1925. Serial No. 37,096.

' since the metal is controlled manually and upon cooling, except Wherethe cross-configuration is other than cylindrical or rectangular, thatis, other than simple in form, there is distortion by reason of unequalrate of cooling of the parts of the metal. Furthermore, the operatorvcannot always place the steel in exactly the right position andconsequently variations of form are produced and inexact dimensionsresult. M invention provides a means whereby the orgiugs may be formedwith only moderate skill in order that the pieces may conformsubstantially or roughly to the desired dimensions and when the forginghas been 2 completed the piece may be heated and I uickly made toconform to the required iape and its parts-correctly alined andpositioned to each other and then cooled while it is retained in itsdesired form. By proper heating and cooling of bodies-such as steel bodes may be tempered as well as straightened. l have thus provided meansfor quick separation of the objects treated and the cooling medium. Theinvention may be contained in structures that vary in theirarr-angemen'tof parts and may be used for straightening metal pieces having a greatvariety of shapes and used for a great variety of purposes. In thepreferred form of the invention, the forging is heated preferably toabout above the proper quenching temperature of steel and then it isdropped, usually forced, into position in the machine and onto suitableanvils andbetween forming devices or parts and when the parts aremanipulated to stretch or shape the more or less distorted piece torequired specifications the piece is flooded and covered with water forthe-prescribed time and the water is quickly evacuated from the piece.This may be varied according to the tempering that is desired to producein objects.

In order to illustrate the practical application of the invention andindicate the manner in which the invention may be utilized I haveselected a machine containing the invention as an example of machines inwhich my invention may be embodied and shall describe it hereinafter.The machine selected as an illustration is shown in the ac companyingdrawings.

Figure 1 of the drawings illustrates a top view of the machine referredto. Fig. 2 illustrates a top View of the machine, parts hemg shownremoved or broken away. The

figure shows the front axle of an automobile in position to be made toconform to the exact dimensions and quenched while in the requiredshape. Fig. 3 is a view of a section taken on'the plane of the line 3-3indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the plane of the line4-4 indicated in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 IS a, View of a section taken on theplane of the line 55' indicated in Fig. 2. F ig. 6 is a side view of themachine, a part being shown as broken away. Fig. 7 is a view of atransverse section taken on a vertical plane at one end of the machine.Fig. 8 illustrates a clamping wheel and means for automatically closinga water outlet. Fig. 9 illustrates diagrammatically the system of airpressure utilized in the operations of the machine.

The machine shown in the drawings .is provided with a suitable base orbed .1 for supporting a' trough having a pair of telescoping parts 2. Ifdesired the sides 3 of the parts 2 only may slide relative to each otherwhile the bottoms 4 may have inner edges that are located in spacedrelation rela= tive to each other. The connection between the boxes issealed by means of a rubber strip 5 having its edge portions clamped tothe sides 3 and the bottoms at by means of strips 6 and screws or bolts7 in order to prevent the escape of water in the central portion of thetrough which is thus formed. The pieces to be straightened and made toconform to required specifications, are placed in the trough. The partsof the machine being so constructed that the piece may be readilydropped into the machine and then forced with a high pressure, ifrequired, to compel a preliminary conformation and enable a securegripping for further changes to required exactness.

The parts of the trough are provided with brackets or anvils 10 forreceiving the piece. The brackets are shaped according to the form ofthe pieces that are to be manipulated before being quenched. WhereI-beams that form faxlesl of automobiles are to be shaped to therequired form, the brackets 10 are provided witha pair of lugs 11 thatform the platforms 13 that are so shaped to better connect the axle tothe frame of the automobile; The brackets 10are also provided f with thehorizontal surfaces 14 that form-an vil surfaces on which the axle issupported.v

The brackets 10 are secured to th'e'bottoms 40f the parts 2 ofthetrough' by means of. the bolts 15 and thusfthe brackets are movedrelative to each other as the parts of the trough are movedgrelative toeach other.-

Other forming orshapingmeans may be also secured .in-tlieitroughaccording to the of the I-beam that forms the axle the saidenlarged parts or heads of the axle must be forced into properalinementwith respect to each other and with respect to the body of the axle.'The ends ofthe'trough are provided with clamping jaws 18 that are sopositioned. as to clamp the enlarged portions or heads 19 of the axleand in the clamping operation force the heads 19 in position such thatthe axesof these parts will be located in'a vertical plane andalso inthe plane of the longitudinal axis of the body portion of the axle. Thejaws 18. slide on guides 20 that are secured to or formed integral withthe bottoms of the trough and right and left screw members 21. arethreaded into the jaws 18 so that the jaws will approach each other at.the same rate from pointsequidistant and'on opposite sides of thevertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the axle and thus the axlemay be bent largely between the heads 19 and the platforms 13, lateralmovement of the body of the axle being prevented by the lugs 11 thatengage the sides of the axle. The opposing faces of the jaws 18 beinlocated in vertical planes, they will force t e heads into such apositionthat the vertical axes of these parts will lie in the verticalplane of the body, of the axle. The jaws may beprovided withsuitable'abutting stops 54 to limit the clamping of the heads 19betweenthe jaws 18.

' The jewels are manipulated by any suitable means such as by the handwheels 22 which are connected to the screw members 21 that revolve inand are secured from "outlets 23 of the .trough. The outlets 23 areformed inthe bottoms a of the parts of the trough and a valve member 24is hmgedly to close the outlets 23.v The valve members 24 are alsoconnected to links 25 and the shoulders 12 for receiving and'fiengaglng'arms-280i the bell crank levers 26 extend acrossithe inner faces of thehand wheels 22 fand thewheels are provided with-pins 29 that are adaptedto engage the arms28 when the wheels have completedtheir rotations so asto clamp the heads 190i the axleamfl raise the arms 28 to close, thevalves .24,

f-To properly locate the relative to a horizontal'p v is' provided witha number of. clamping U members having clampingfac'es located inhorizontal planes. In the form shown the partsof the axle ane' the:machine 0.

bracketslO and the members 18 have anvil parts on which the axlerests'and a beam '30 is placed on the anvil. The beam 30 may. be made toconform 'to'the upper surface of the finished axle. Preferably the beam30 is provided with protruding parts 31 that engageflqcorrespondingportions of the axle whereby the axle will be shaped'and made toconformto the'desired outline as. HIGHS-j: ured with reference to ahorizontal plane The protruding parts 31 make contact with the axle atdesired points, such as'on' the platforms 13 and the ends'of the axleand also, if desired, in the central part of the axle so as to forcethese parts in proper relation to each other. When the beam 30 has beenpositioned it is pressed down with considerable pressure against theaxle which is, preferably, thereafter clamped by the jaws 18.

The pressure may be produced by any.

suitable device such as a hydrostatically or pneumatically operatedpiston. In the construction shown pneumatic pressure devices are usedfor forcing the beamagainst the axle. A pair of cylinders 35 areprovided 1 with pistons 36 that are connected to walk- 1ng beams orlevers 37 that are pivotally supported on standards 38. .In order toallow for the movements of levers 37. the cylinders 35 may be connectedto heads 39 that.

cylinders are connected through suitable pipes 41 to a source of supplyof air under are pivotally supported on brackets 40. The 3 the requiredpressure. The flow of the air I to and from the cylinders ,35 may be controlled by a suitable four-way valve 42. .A v pair of uprights 43 areconnected to the beam 30 and the levers 37;: When, therefore, the beam30is placed-in position the connection with the source of supply. ofairunder pressureis established through the operation of the valve42.When all the parts have been properly positioned with reference to theaxle, which is at a high temperature the shoulders 11 and the clamp.-

ing members that engage the ends of the axle may be drawn apart tostretch the axle and straighten intermediate portions bring all of itsparts in proper alinement and causing it to accord with requiredspecifications.

The axle is stretched or drawn by any suitable mechanism such as ahydrostatical- 1y or pneumatically operated piston whereby the engagingmembers 11 may be drawn relative to each other. The engaging membersbeing secured to the parts of the trough, a pneumatic device 44 isconnected to one of the ,parts of the trough while the other part issecured to the bed of the machine. As shown in the drawings a suitablecylinder 45 is connected to a source of air pressure supply by means ofthe pipe 46 and the flow of the air to and from the cylinder 45 iscontrolled by means of the valve 47. The piston of the. cylinder 45 isconnected to one of the parts of the trough by means of the piston rod48. When the parts of the trough are separated and the hot axlestretched to the required length, water is directed into the trough.

The axle may be quickly flooded by means of water that is directedthrough the pipes 50 which are made large to quickly fill the trough andcover the axle to produce a substantially uniform and rapid cooling ofthe axle. When the axle has been allowed to remain in the water for therequired time the valves 24 are opened by reverse rotation of the wheels22, which allow the arms 28 to drop and open the valve 24. The outletsare also large so that the trough may be quickly emptied. This is ofparticular value where exact tempering is to be performed. If desiredoil or other liquid material may be used for the proper rate of coolingto enable the formation of the desired compounds or precipitations inthe metal to produce the desired temper in the object treated.

In the operation of the machine the axle is taken from a furnace-whereit is raised to and maintained at the required temperature and quicklyplaced in position in the machine. The beam 30 being supported on linksit may be readily pushed to one side and allowed to swing into positionabove the axle. The valve 47 is connected to the source of supply of airunder very great pressure through the pipe 59. This raises the pistons36 and forces the beam 30 against the axle with great pressure to forceit in position as well as to bend it and force it against the anvils onthe bottom of the trough. The wheels 22 are rotated to clamp andbend,rif necessary, to position the heads 19 correctly. The stops 54,however, prevent drawing on the heads in case of some give at theshoulders or engaging members 11. The jaws 18 thus have the desiredclearance relative to the heads 19. Rotation of the wheels 22 closes thevalves 24. The valve 42 is then turned to reduce the pressure of thebeam 30 on the axle. Thecylinders 35 are connected through the pipes 41and 55 to the tank 56. The tank 56 as a safety valve 57 which retainsthe air at suflicient pressure to cause the beam 30 to hold the axle inposition and yet permits all parts of the axle between the members 11 todraw pro ortionately. The valve 47 is then opene which connects thecylinder 44 to the pipe 59 and the parts of the axle are drawn to therequired longitudinal dimensions. The trough is then flooded through thepipes 50. At the expiration of.- the required time, the wheels 22 arerotated in the reverse direction which opens the valve 24, the cylinders35 are exhausted through the operation of the valve 42 which connectsthem to the pipes 58 and at the same time the part 2 of the trough towhich the iston rod 48 is connected is returned by tlie reverse oeration of thevalve 47. The springs 60 ai the return of the piston 36and raising of the beam 30. Immediately upon releasement of the beam byopening of the valve 42, the beam 30 is swung to one side by the springs52 which are connected to uprights 53 that are secured to the beam 30.The axle may be quickly removed and another placed in position and theoperations repeated.

I claim:

1. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivingthe bodies and for containing a liquid, clamping members having opposingsurfaces for forcing parts of each body in a definite relation to eachother,-meansfor flooding the body with the liquid and means forevacuating the liquid from the trough to remove the liquid from thebody.

2. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivingthe bodies and for containing a liquid, clamping members having opposingsurfaces for forcing parts of each body in a definite relation to eachother, a mechanism for forcibly separating one set of clamping membersfrom another set of the clamping members in a longitudinal directionwith respect to the body. and means for flooding the body with theliquid and means for evacuating the liquid from aha trough to remove theliquid from the 3. In a straightening machine for metal bodies a troughfor receiving the bodies and for containing liquid, clamping membershaving opposing surfaces located in definite relation to each other forforcing parts of each body in the same definite relation to each other,means for flooding the body with the liquid and means for evacuating theliquid from the trough to remove the liquid from the body.

4. In a straightening machine for metal bodies a trough for recelvingthe bodies and 5. In a straightening machine for metal, bodies, a troughfor receiving the bodies and for containing liquid, clamping membershaving opposing parallel surfaces located parallel to definite planes ofreference and for forcing parts of each body in the same definiterelation to each other, a mechanism for forcibly separating one set ofthe clamping members from another set of the clamping members in alongitudinal direction with respect to the body, and means for floodingthe body with the liquid and means for evacuating the liquid from, thetrough to remove the liquid from the body.

6. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivingthe bodies and for containing liquid, clamping members having opposingsurfaces, certain of the surfaces being located substantially parallelto vertical planes and other of the surfaces being locate-dsubstantially parallel to horizontal planes for forcing parts of eachbody in the same definite relation to each other. means for flooding thebody with the liquid and means for evacuating the liquid from aha troughto remove the liquid from the 7. In a straightening machine for metalbodies and for containing liquid, a plurality of sets of clampingmembers having opposing surfaces for forcing parts of each body indefinite relation to each other, a mechanism for forcibly separating oneset of clamping members from another set of clamping members and meansfor flooding the body with the liquid.

8. In a straightening machine for metal bodies and for containingliquid, a plurality of sets of clamping members having oppos ingsurfaces for forcing parts of each body in definite relation to eachother, a mechanism for forcibly separating one set of clamping membersfrom another set of clamping members in a longitudinal direction withrespect to the body and means for flooding the body with the liquid.

9. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivingthe bodies and for containing liquid, clamping members having opposingsurfaces, certain of the surfaces being located substantially parallelto vertical planes and other of the surfaces being located substantiallyparallel to horizontal planes for forcing parts of each body in the samedefinite relation to each other, a

mechanism for forcibly/separating one set ofthe clam'pingmembers fromanother set "of thecIa-mping members, and means for flooding the bodwith the liquid and means for evacuating t e liquid from the trough.

10. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivinthe bodies and for containing a liquid an having parts movable relativeto each other, a clamping member secured to each of the parts forclamping members for alining parts of each body with reference to oneplane and secured to the parts of the trough, a secondset of clampingmembers for alining other parts of the body with reference to anotherplane, and mechanism for forcibly moving the parts of the trou h onerelative to the other to stretch the ody and force other parts of thebody in alinement with refer-' ence to the said planes, means forflooding the body with the liquid and means for evacuating the liquidfrom the trough.

12. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, atrough for receivingthe bodies and for containing a liquid and having parts movable relativeto each other, clamping members for forcing parts of each body intopredetermined alinement and means for securing parts of each body to theparts of the trough and mechanism for forcibly moving the parts of thetrough one relative to the other to stretch the body while its parts arebeing held in predetermined alinement.

13. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a trough for receivingthe bodies and for containing a liquid and having parts movable relativeto each other, clamping members for forcing parts of each body intopredetermined alinementand means for securing parts of each body to theparts of the trough mechanism for forcibly moving the parts of thetrough one relative to the other to stretch the body while its parts arebeing held in predetermined alinement, means for flooding the body withthe liquid and means for evacuating the liquid from the trough.

14. In a straightening machine for metal bodies, a two part bed forreceiving the bodies, the parts of the bed being movable relative toeach other clamping parts for forcing parts of the body intopredetermined alinement and mechanism for forciblym0ving the parts ofthe bedone relative to the other to stretch the body while theclampinmembers maintain the parts of the bodyin predetermined alinementp.

1.5. In a straightening machine formetal bodies, a'bed having partsmovable relative to each other, clampin members for shaping each body,means or forcing the body into position with relatively high pressure,means for connecting the body at two points to the parts of the bed,means for reducing the pressure'to maintain the body in its alinedposition and mechanism for forcibly moving the parts of the bed onerelative to the other to stretch the body while its parts are beingmaintained in the desired alinement.

16. In a straightening machine for heated metal bodies, a bed havingparts movable relative to each other, clamping members for shaping eachbody, means for forcing the body into position with relatively highpressure, means for connecting the body at two points to the parts ofthe bed, means for reducing the pressure to maintain the body in itsalined position and mechanism for forcibly moving the parts of the bedone relative 'to the other to stretch the body while its parts are beingmaintained in the desired alinement, means for cooling the body.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to thisspecification.

BERTIS H. URSCHEL.

